hard ball v soft ball

[Billser]

is there much difference in the winter lads?

played with a fella today who said he wouldn't use a soft ball in winter.

or like everything else is it just a matter of personal preference?

 

[haplesshacker]

I believe (and stand to be corrected) that the reason we use hard balls in winter is because there is less roll out after a drive in the winter, and therefore will use a longer 2 piece ball for the extra distance.

As the greens are softer, you don't need a high spinning soft ball for the approach shots.

Please correct me if I have misunderstood the theory.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Hapless

Exactly as I see it. Harder balls for longer distance and less need for spin on approach shots. Only down side I can see is the feel off the face on chip shots around the green and the ball coming off the putter but I guess that gets offset by the slower greens

 

[haplesshacker]

So, I'm learning some of the theory at last. Still useless at the practice though

Homer. Nice that we're not trading 'witty' remarks for once.

 

[TonyN]

To be honest I dont really think there is alot of difference in distance between hard or soft balls. What you loose in roll you probably gain in carry.

If I swapped from a soft spinning ball, I probably wouldn't get enough backspin to keep the ball airbourne long enough.

Today I played with a Callaway HX tour and it was spinning so well of the driver, it stayed airbourne ages and I got a decent amount of carry all day. I lost it on the back nine and out of curiosity tried a harder ball I found (nike) to see if it went further. It didn't even when I middled it, it just wouldn't stay in the air and kept dropping like a brick.

I prefere softer balls all year because they feel better for chipping, pitching and putting!

 

[Herbie]

Hard or soft matters not, what matters is how you play the ball. Hitting a hard ball all the time simply requires different skills around greens or delicate situations than with a soft ball. All a soft ball does for me is allow me to generate more spin but as I am not that good at spinning at will other than from short shots or bunkers it matters very little, I play the same scores with either. The average golfer wouldnt be able to tell you which ball was soft and which hard if you gave them two unmarked ones to try.

 

[TonyN]

I am an average golfer, and I would! First thing I do when I find a ball I aint used before is knock it against my teeth to see how soft the cover is! But I agree with everything else you have said! I'm in the same boat! Just preferance!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Hapless,

I love our verbal joshing. I know its all done with tongue very firmly planted in cheek and it always brings a smile to my face. As you are just down the M3 from sunny Bracknell we'll have to get a game sorted out somewhere

 

[Herbie]

I am an average golfer, and I would! First thing I do when I find a ball I aint used before is knock it against my teeth to see how soft the cover is! But I agree with everything else you have said! I'm in the same boat! Just preferance!

Ha ha ha, you never know whos pocket they have been in lol.

 

[haplesshacker]

We should. We seem really bad down here for getting together when compared to our Northern friends.

Perhaps now that the summer comps are all out of the way, we should do it.

ps I'm not like this in real life you know!!

 

[TonyN]

Dont worry about that herb, Ive had worse things knocked against my teeth

 

[viscount17]

I think I'm getting to the stage of preferring softer balls, not that I can control them but it hurts less if you miss hit with steel shafts!

 

[flandango]

I tend to prefer the balls that don't go in the trees, lakes, sand, out of bounds, or 3ft in front of me.......anyone got any suggestions???

 

[Imurg]

Seem to recall reading somewhere that a decent (middle-low h-cap) player will actually hit a softer ball further than a hard, distance one. My pro reckons that he can hit a prov further than an AD333 any day any condition. I imagine its that they're made for the stronger hitter and carry further thanks to the aerodynamics.

 

[viscount17]

the pro V's are designed for high speed hitters (see the Titleist website). we lesser mortals can't possibly get the full benefit from them.

 

[big_russ]

Its all down to swing speed and your ability to compress the ball to enable you to get the full benifit of the balls composition.

 

[USER1999]

I used to like Titleist tour balatas in the winter. they didn't go far, but if you thinned one, it didn't make your hands go numb.

I now use the same ball all year round. Can't see the point in changeing really. Just one more thing to get used to.

I need to find a yellow one for those last few holes in the evening though.

 

[TonyN]

When I grew up I used to kinick balls out of me old mans shag bag all the time, he only ever had about 3 white ones the rest where yellow, orange green red and blue, dont see these colours anymore and if ya do ya can bet ya bottom dollar they are Donnay's finest.

 

[SammmeBee]

the pro V's are designed for high speed hitters (see the Titleist website). we lesser mortals can't possibly get the full benefit from them.

I think that refers to the V1x - any old chopper (who can afford them) would benefit from using the normal V1s IMHO.....

 

[andiritchie]

to get the full benefit of a pro v1 it has to be hit hard a pro v1x has to be hit even harder us club golfers just like the nice soft feel